JOHANNESBURG — Sanzar have confirmed the fixture details for the new-look Vodacom Super Rugby play-offs that kick off next weekend.
The Waratahs will kick things off against the Blues at Eden Park on Friday night with the Crusaders hosting the Sharks at Nelson’s Trafalgar Park on Saturday due to their opponents having to travel from South Africa.
The regular season drew to a dramatic close on Saturday with the Stormers joining the previously-qualified Reds in securing a home semi-final and a priceless week-off as the Super Rugby Finals Series gets underway.
The Waratahs and Sharks finished the regular season tied on 57 points and equal with 10 victories. However, the Waratahs qualified in fifth position due to their superior points differential. Rounding out the cast are the seven-time champions the Crusaders, who claimed the New Zealand Conference title with victory over the Hurricanes, and the Blues who cemented their play-off spot with a win against the Highlanders.
The winners of the Super Rugby Qualifiers will advance to the semi-finals, where they will face the Reds or Stormers who will host the games on Saturday, July 2, with the final taking place the following week. The season finale will be hosted by the qualifier that finished highest in the overall Super Rugby table.
Super Rugby finals series Super Rugby Qualifiers: Blues (4th) v Waratahs (5th) Friday, June 24 2011 Eden Park, Auckland New Zealand Kick-off: 7:35pm (NZT/5:35pm AEST) Crusaders (3rd) v Sharks (6th) Saturday, June 25 2011 Trafalgar Park, Nelson NZL Kick-off: 7:35pm (NZT/AEST ) Super Rugby Semi-Finals: Queensland Reds (1st) v Lowest ranked qualifier Saturday, July 2 2011 Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, Australia Kick-off: 7:40pm (AEST) Stormers (2nd) v Highest ranked qualifier Saturday, July 2 2011 Newlands, Cape Town, South Africa Kick-off: 5:05pm (SAST/1:05am) (Sunday) (AEST) Super Rugby final (Saturday, July 9 2011). —Supersport
